As the October 31 trade deadline draws nearer, the identity of buyers and sellers around the NFL should come further into focus. At 1-4, the Bears would presumably fall into the latter category, but that status would not include seeking a deal to ship out one of their starting corners. 
Chicago is not currently shopping Jaylon Johnson, Adam Jahns of The Athletic writes (subscription required). The 24-year-old is in the final season of his rookie contract, and his status as a rental would no doubt be appealing to any number of teams looking to shore up their secondary. As Jahns adds, though, Johnson is still seeking a deal which will keep him in the Windy City beyond 2023.
The former second-rounder changed agents this summer in pursuit of an extension, but no new contract has materialized as of yet. That will likely continue through the remainder of the campaign, something which would leave him free to depart in March in the absence of a second Bears pact. How willing team and player are to enter into a continued relationship will be a key factor in informing Chicago’s next step in this situation.
Johnson has been a full-time starter in all four of his Bears campaigns, a stretch which has seen him record only one interception (though he has added 32 pass breakups and a trio of forced fumbles). The Utah alum has fared better in his past two seasons than the first two with respect to coverage statistics, and he has allowed a career-best opposing passer rating of 57.4 in 2023, albeit on only 11 targets across three contests. He would be a logical trade target for acquiring teams prepared to extend him on a market-level deal for 2024 and beyond.
The Bears have added three cornerbacks over the past two drafts (Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith). The former two have operated as starters when healthy, and dealing away Johnson would give the team the option of moving Gordon from the slot back to the perimeter, where he started his career. On the other hand, a new Johnson pact would not require a market-resetting investment like the one the Ravens made in linebacker Roquan Smith after he was dealt away by Chicago midseason last year. Whether or not general manager Ryan Poles follows the same course of action with Johnson will be a key storyline to follow in the coming days and weeks.
Johnson is solid if not a little brittle. But until the Bears draft a CB in the first round who blows by him on the depth chart they should keep him. They have 4 decent CB’s right now and most teams play 3 all the time and it’s not even fair to judge the DB ‘s until the Bears mount some kind of pass rush. They’re not gonna trade him for a 2nd round draft pick when he was that and has 4 years of experience they paid for already. They should re sign him and Poles has said repeatedly he wants to get that done. So you can all just wish for somebody else.
I don’t know Mike… The lack of turnovers created by him from the CB position is a big deal. He’s gonna wanna get paid like the top 5 guys and he just isn’t one. He’s been solid but not elite. And he’s missed 12 games… I think Poles has been wise to not pull the trigger..
I think JJ is a solid but unspectacular corner; but also a leader amongst his teammates. The Bears can make a multi-year offer at a level that if exceeded would net them a compensatory pick. Hopefully he stays and the next generation (Stevenson, Smith, Gordon) grow up around him and make a solid room… He wouldn’t yield a 4th round pick, so why deal him away ?
I think you dangle him, like almost any other player on this roster, and see what you can get. No harm in listening. Someone wows you with a high pick, then bye bye.
Keep him around until he’s the same age as Marcedes Lewis and maybe by then, the Bears will have a team worth watching.